Match Preview: Bradford v Posh

26 September 2015

Quickfire Double Secures Points

The Graham Westley reign as manager began with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Valley Parade against Bradford City, but the boss was quick to praise assistant Grant McCann following an excellent away day.

Westley dedicated the three points to his assistant manager and the squad on duty as goals from Lee Angol and a first in English football for Chris Forrester secured a second away win in a row.

Posh made a bright start and Erhun Oztumer curled an early free-kick into the wall after birthday boy Marcus Maddison upended 25-yards from goal.

Anderson was booked for hacking down Angol on the quarter hour mark but Maddison fired the resulting free-kick into the wall.

Maddison fired wide from 25-yards after an intelligent lay-off from Smith following a raking pass from goalkeeper Ben Alnwick.

Maddison, celebrating his 22nd birthday, scuffed a shot wide with his right-foot on 24 minutes after excellent approach play from Oztumer and Elder in a tight area down the right.

Coulibaly curled a shot over the bar on 28 minutes after collecting a pass from Maddison in the left channel.

Angol was cautioned by referee Mr Tierney for unsporting behavior on 39 minutes as he obstructed the clearance of goalkeeper Jones as he attempted to clear from his hands.

A deflected effort from Michael Smith was well gathered by Jones on the stretch on 41 minutes as a patient build-up culminated in the full-back cutting inside onto his left-foot.

Goalkeeper Alnwick made his first save of the afternoon on the stroke of half-time, claiming a looping Hanson header at full-stretch.

Posh had a lucky escape early in the second half as a driven corner was met by substitute Davies, his header was unmarked, but his effort cracked against the post.

Coulibaly saw a shot smothered by Jones at the other end as Posh tried to push themselves up the pitch.

The deadlock was broken on 55 minutes and it was the move of the match, Forrester with a fine pass to Elder, who advanced, played in Coulibaly down the left channel, he in turn picked out Maddison, who's shot was parried into the path of ANGOL who made no mistake.

Less than two minutes later, Posh doubled their lead, Coulibaly twisted and turned in the box, his shot was scuffed but deflected kindly into the path of FORRESTER, who squeezed his shot under the body of Jones.

Maddison curled a shot wide of the target after a quickly taken free-kick on 63 minutes caught out the hosts.

Phil Parkinson made a change on 67 minutes with Billy Knott replacing Liddle in midfield. Oztumer curled a free-kick wide after Maddison was felled by substitute Knott, who was cautioned inside a minute of his introduction.

Cole squandered a decent headed opportunity on 74 minutes as he met an Evans free-kick, Alnwick then punched the loose ball before the referee stopped play for a facial injury.

Posh boss Graham Westley made his first change moments later as Conor Washington replaced the hard-working Coulibaly in attack.

Posh introduced Jon Taylor for Oztumer on 83 minutes as a second change was made by Westley. Angol planted a header from a Taylor free-kick inches wide on 88 minutes as Posh came close to a third.